CD43 (leukosialin, sialophorin) expression is differentially regulated by retinoic acids

CD43 (leukosialin, sialophorin), a cell-surface associated mucin that is constitutively expressed at high levels on most leukocytes, is thought to be involved in cell activation and adhesion. We here provide evidence that the vitamin A metabolites all-trans and 13-cis retinoic acid up-regulate CD43 on human leukemic (HMC-1) mast cells, as determined by flow cytometry, Western blot analysis, and by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Enhanced CD43 expression was accompanied by a strong increase in anti-CD43-mediated, LFA-1-dependent homotypic aggregation of HMC-1 cells, demonstrating that newly synthesized CD43 is functionally active in transmitting signals across the plasma membrane which result in enhanced cellular adhesion. CD43 expression was also enhanced in response to retinoic acids on isolated human skin mast cells and human monocytes, but not on cells of the basophilic cell line KU-812 and promyelocytic HL-60 cells, indicating that these agents might act in a cell-type specific manner. These combined result-point to a novel aspect in the regulation of CD43. Possibly, vitamin A metabolites act directly on the CD43 gene, since putative retinoic acid response elements have been detected within its regulatory regions.